Sometimes it was his papa who did it, I think," said Elsie.

"Oh, yes!" said Ned. "Papa, why don't you do such things for us
sometimes?"

"Really, my son, I do not seem to have any talent in that line,"
returned the captain with a smile. "Your brother Max has, however, and
I hope that, some of these days, he will come home and make the fun for
you that you are so eager for."

"Oh, I'll be so glad! And will he teach me how to do it, too?"

"I hardly think he can," his father answered, with an amused look; "at
least, not till you are a good deal older than you are now."

"Well, I'm getting older every day; mamma tells me so when she wants me
to behave like a little gentleman."

"Which is always, Neddie boy," Violet said, with an amused look.

"Yes, my son, both mamma and papa want their little boy to be always a
little gentleman--kind, courteous, and thoughtful for others," the
captain said, softly patting the little hand laid confidingly on his
knee.

"Lu, do you know if Rosie sent off those important letters this
morning?" asked Violet.

"Yes, she told me she did; also that she had learned from Cousin Mary
that Cousin Arthur had written a warm invitation from himself and his
wife, and from her and Cousin Cal, and sent it by the early morning
mail. I presume they will be received by the Crolys to-morrow and that
two or three days later the reply will come."

"I think it can hardly fail to be an acceptance," said Violet. "I shall
be glad of the opportunity to make the acquaintance of Rosie's future
mother-in-law,--the father-in-law too,--and I dare say Will is anxious
to have them know mamma, and perhaps the rest of us."

"And, having done so they will be all the more pleased with the match,"
added the captain. "By the way, my dear, we must keep open house for the
entertainment of family connections when they are here to attend the
wedding."

"I am entirely willing," Violet answered with a smile; "as well I may be
when my husband bears all the expense and does the planning, with the
housekeeper's assistance, and she directs the servants, who do all the
work. Really I do not know where a more fortunate woman than I can be
found."

"Nor I where a more appreciative wife could be discovered," returned the
captain, regarding her with a smile of profound affection.

"I hope Captain Keith will be one of our guests," said Grace. "I liked
him very much when he visited us that time at the seashore. Didn't you,
Lu?